Status: Rookie forward for the Toronto Raptors
Ht: 6-11 Wt: 240
DOB: Aug. 24, 1984. In: Brooklyn, N.Y.
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| Toronto's Charlie Villanueva tries to hold back Austin Croshere during a Dec. 30 game. (Getty Images) |
Nickname: "Smooth."
Hobbies/interests: "I like being on computer, relaxing with my friends, just hangin' out, really."
Favorite movies: "Anything that has to do with Denzel Washington."
Favorite TV shows: "I'm starting to like more of the reality shows [laughs]."
Musical tastes: "Hip-hop, R&B."
Early basketball memory: "The first time I dunked the ball was in eighth grade -- it was in the playgrounds (Queens, N.Y.). We were playing at lunchtime, half-court three-on-three. And I just caught a dunk, which was my first one."
First job: "Never had a job. I never worked."
First car: "1996 Jeep (black)."
Pregame feeling: "Thinking of the game. Who I gotta guard. What I gotta do in order to make my team better."
Favorite meal: "White rice and steak."
Favorite breakfast cereal: "Trix."
Favorite ice cream flavor: "Vanilla."
Greatest sports moment: "Winning the NCAA title."
Most painful moment: "When my mom ended up getting into an accident during the season in the beginning of my second year at UConn. It really hurt me and affected me basketball-wise, as well."
Embarrassing basketball memory: "Embarrassing moment is when you get dunked on. I remember in high school I got dunked on pretty hard. I tried to take the charge and he just went right over me [laughs]."
Favorite athletes to watch: "You gotta go with T-Mac and Lamar Odom. I really like them. Because I feel like me and them have the similar type of game. [MLB?] Derek Jeter. [NFL?] I used to like the Lions when Barry Sanders played. But he's done. His career is over now so, I don't really watch football like that now. [Tennis?] I don't know anything about tennis. [Boxing?] Gotta go with Roy Jones. [Golf?] Tiger."
Closest NBA friends: "Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Lamar Odom and Emeka Okafor."
Funniest player encountered: "Mike James."
Toughest competitors: "He was my teammate in high school -- Luol Deng. He's with the Bulls now. He's just real competitive. He just plays with a lot of intensity."
Childhood dream: "I always dreamed to be an NBA player. That's always been my goal since I was really young."
Favorite NBA uniform: "New York."
Last Halloween costume: Spider-Man.
Favorite vacation spot: "I'd say the Dominican Republic."
People qualities most admired: "People just have to have an outgoing type of personality. Real friendly. Just similar to my personality. That's the type of guy I am."
| Scoop Malinowski is a CBS SportsLine contributor. He created The Biofile interview feature in 1992. You can read more Biofiles at www.thebiofile.com. |  |
